Amish family fighting forced chemo: Allowing guardian for daughter could affect other parents

TOLEDO, Ohio – An Amish family who fled their home in Ohio so their 11-year-old daughter won't be forced to undergo chemotherapy says that appointing a guardian to make her medical decisions could affect the rights of other parents to make their own choices.

The lawyer for the family of the girl, Sarah Hershberger, wants a state appeals court to overturn the order assigning the guardian.

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The family said in a court filing Friday that appointing the guardian violates their constitutional rights and affects the rights of all parents in Ohio.

The guardian says the appeals court shouldn't overturn the decision appointing her even though she now wants off the case.

Sarah and her parents left their farm in northeastern Ohio more than three months ago and went into hiding to avoid treatments.